Affected by the pandemic, China's movie box office during the May Day holiday this year was sluggish, with box office revenue of 293 million yuan (about $44.17 million), a year-on-year decrease of 82.5 percent.

The total number of viewers was 8.576 million, a year-on-year decrease of 80.62 percent; the total number of screenings was 1.4415 million, a year-on-year decrease of 36.28 percent; the average ticket price was 34.2 yuan per piece, and the ticket price in some cities was already lower than 30 yuan per piece, which is lower than that at the beginning of the year according to Dengta data platform.

In some of the less affected cities, some cinemas had a film ticket and popcorn combo for 29 yuan and two combo deals for 39 yuan to promote attendance, according to a report by Xinhua.

As of May 3, the total number of cinemas in operation in China was 8,206, with an operating rate of 68 percent. Except for Beijing and Shanghai, as well as provinces of Jilin, Qinghai, Hebei and Shanxi, the operating rate of cinemas in other regions remained above 50 percent. Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces had an operating rate of more than 90 percent.

Three new films premiered, and eight old ones were re-screened during the holiday. The top three grossing films were "Stay with Me," "The Bad Guys" released on April 29, and "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" released on April 8.